History

About Our Roots

Year Event　
1906 高橋浅吉, 旭川にて「高橋梅鳳堂」として家具店を開業
（三越が洋家具の販売を開始した時代。浅吉は指物師として家具, 額縁などを製造。「ワニス」を旭川で初めて使用)
Asakichi Takahashi opened a furniture shop in Asahikawa under the name “Takahashi Baihodo”. At a time when Mitsukoshi had begun selling Western-style furniture, Asakichi worked as a sashimonoshi (traditional cabinetmaker), producing furniture and picture frames. He was also the first in Asahikawa to use varnish.
1918 初代 高橋正三, 二代目庄兵衛の次男として旭川に生まれる
（1936年, 柳宗悦が日本民芸館を開館)
Shozo Takahashi, the first generation, was born in Asahikawa as the second son of Shobei, the second-generation head of the Takahashi family. In 1936, Yanagi Soetsu established the Japan Folk Crafts Museum.
1941 近衛兵として東京在住後, 旭川へ帰郷
（柳宗悦の民芸運動に共鳴し, 早くから月光荘の画材などを扱う）
Following his time in Tokyo serving in the Imperial Guard, he returned to Asahikawa. Resonating with Yanagi Soetsu’s Mingei movement, he was an early distributor of Gekkoso art materials.
1943 現在地に「美術の店 高橋梅鳳堂」（旭川市3条8丁目）を出店
He established “Art Shop Takahashi Baihodo” at its present location, 3-jō 8-chōme, Asahikawa.
1945 「高橋梅鳳堂」(旭川市3条10丁目) 2階に「北海道美術工芸研究所」を開設
（1室は北島吉光が担当する石膏デッサン講座, もう1室は五十嵐久也が担当する思想講座)
The Hokkaido Art and Craft Research Institute was established on the second floor of “Takahashi Baihodo” (3-jō 10-chōme, Asahikawa). One room was used for a plaster drawing course taught by Yoshimitsu Kitajima, while another hosted a philosophy course led by Hisaya Igarashi.
1946 北島吉光を中心に「北海道アンデバンタン美術協会」結成, 事務局となる
Led by Yoshimitsu Kitajima, the Hokkaido Indépendants Art Association was established, and the organization’s administrative office was set up there.
1947 後の日本民芸協団創立者 三宅忠一を知る
北海道民芸協会（代表 三宅忠一）の旭川支部を結成（支部長 井内謹二）, 事務局となる
He became acquainted with Tadakazu Miyake, who would later go on to found the Japan Folk Crafts Association. He also helped establish the Asahikawa Branch of the Hokkaido Folk Crafts Association (headed by Tadakazu Miyake), serving as its secretariat, with Kinji Iuchi appointed as branch head.
1948 丸井今井デパートで「棟方志功展」(北海道民芸協会主催)を開催
The “Shiko Munakata Exhibition,” sponsored by the Hokkaido Folk Crafts Association, took place at the Marui Imai Department Store.
1949 「美術と工芸の店 梅鳳堂」に改名
The shop was renamed “Bijutsu to Kōgei no Mise Baihodo” (Baihodo: Art and Craft Shop).
1953 難波田龍起を中心に彫刻家峰孝, 新田実による3人展を企画
Centered on Tatsuoki Nambata, he planned a three-artist exhibition with sculptors Takashi Mine and Minoru Nitta.
1964 「えぞ民芸店」（旭川市4条8丁目）開業
日本民芸協団旭川支部（支部長 井内謹二）を結成, 「第1回日本民芸展」を丸井今井デパートで開催
The “Ezo Mingei Shop” was opened in Asahikawa (4-jō 8-chōme). The Asahikawa Branch of the Japan Folk Crafts Association was established, and the First Japan Folk Crafts Exhibition was held at the Marui Imai Department Store.
1966 「梅鳳堂画廊」（旭川市3条9丁目木下ビル地下）開廊
“Baihodo Gallery” was opened in the basement of the Kinoshita Building, located at 3-jō 9-chōme, Asahikawa.
1968 「えぞ民芸店」を梅鳳堂の2階に移転
The “Ezo Mingei Shop” was relocated to the second floor of Baihodo.
1970 二代目 高橋敏八 参画
Bimpachi Takahashi, the second generation, joined the business.
1971 「梅鳳堂木匠会」を発足
The “Baihodo Mokusho-kai” (Baihodo Woodworkers’ Association) was founded.
1972 「株式会社 梅鳳堂」として法人化
（代表取締役 高橋正三, 専務取締役 高橋敏八）
Baihodo was incorporated as “Baihodo Co., Ltd.” with Shōzō Takahashi as Representative Director and Bimpachi Takahashi as Managing Director.
1974 「梅鳳堂画廊」を梅鳳堂2階に移転し「ギャラリー梅鳳堂」として再び開廊
The Baihodo Gallery was relocated to the second floor of Baihodo and reopened under the name “Gallery Baihodo.”
1979 「ギャルリ アンヴォル」（旭川西武デパート内）を出店
“Galerie Envol” was opened inside the Asahikawa Seibu Department Store.
1993 50周年を期に札幌店（サッポロファクトリー内）「レンガ館ギャラリー 梅鳳堂」を出店
真砂三千代, 真木テキスタイルスタジオを含む服飾を中心とした商材の扱いを開始
一時「ギャルリ アンヴォル」を休廊
Marking its 50th anniversary, Baihodo opened a Sapporo branch, “Renga-kan Gallery Baihodo,” inside Sapporo Factory.
The shop began handling primarily fashion-related merchandise, including works by Michiyo Masago and Maki Textile Studio.
“Galerie Envol” was temporarily closed.
1995 「ニングルテラス」（新富良野プリンスホテル内, 倉本聰企画立案）にクラフト作品を主とした「ふくろうの家」を出店
1996 「北の嵐山 梅鳳堂」（旭川市旭岡2丁目）を新設, 地階に「ギャルリ アンヴォル」を再び開廊
「倉本聰 装幀原画」を中心とし,「小野州一展」をOPEN企画として開催
（代表取締役 高橋敏八, 会長 高橋正三）
“Kita no Arashiyama Baihodo” was newly established in Asahioka 2-chōme, Asahikawa.
“Galerie Envol” was reopened on the basement floor.
Centered on original cover artwork by So Kuramoto, the “Shuichi Ono Exhibition” was held as the opening exhibition.
2018 「レンガ館ギャラリー 梅鳳堂」25周年を期に円山（札幌市中央区南1条西24丁目）に移転
「梅鳳堂 Sapporo」として再び開廊
Marking the 25th anniversary of “Renga-kan Gallery Baihodo,” the gallery was relocated to Maruyama (Minami 1-jō Nishi 24-chōme, Chūō-ku, Sapporo).
It reopened under the name “Baihodo Sapporo.”
Ryotaro Takahashi, the third generation, joined the business.
2026 現在は個人作家の「手しごと」による作品を中心とした器や雑貨, 衣服, また絵画や版画, 彫刻等の企画/販売を展開
（代表取締役 高橋敏八, 専務取締役 高橋遼太郎）
Today, the gallery focuses on handcrafted works by individual artists, including tableware, everyday goods, clothing, as well as paintings, prints, and sculpture.
The company is led by Bimpachi Takahashi as Representative Director, with Ryotaro Takahashi serving as Managing Director.